Advertising display device



Dec."3, 1940. E. HERBERGER ADVERTISING D ISPLAY DEVICH- I Filed Oct. 15,1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l [vvE/vToe LESTER E. HERBEEGER av ATTOIQNE TS Dec.3, 1940. 1.. E. HERBERGER Y ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed 001;. 15,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIWE Nrog EGEE [ES TEE E. /7'EE5E ATrozrvEYsPatented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in illuminatedelectric signs, dealers displays, and signal lights, and an object ofthe invention is to provide a practical and inexpensive device of thischaracter comprising a simple and efficient operating mechanism, wherebya motion illusion or animated effect of an object or figure may beobtained without the use of costly motors and other mechanical devices.

Animated signs, displays, and signals, as now commonly constructed,usually employ motors and/or other mechanical devices for operatingthem, when the figures or illustrated objects thereon are to have theappearance of being in motion or action. Such apparatus is expensive toinstall, and the maintenance cost may be high because of wear, breakageof parts, and motor failures, which may result from power linedifficulties, and various other causes. It is therefore desirable thatsome simple and inexpensive means be provided for operating advertisingdisplay devices, animated electric signs, and various forms of signals,whereby the objectionable features, above mentioned, are entirelyeliminated, and whereby such apparatus may be operated continuously overlong periods at very small cost.

One of the primary objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide asimple and inexpensive method of operating an animated advertisingdisplay sign or signal, which comprises no movable parts or mechanisms,whereby the cost of operation and maintenance is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide an advertising display device or signcomprising an opaque, perforated sheet, upon the front or outwardlyexposed surface of which is printed or painted an illustration of thesubject to be animated, and means being provided back of said plate forimparting action to thefigure appearing on the front of said plate.

,A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character described,comprising a plurality of plates or thin sheets of material having meansembodied in the construction thereof, whereby when a light is placedback of said sheets or plates and intermittently turned on and off, amotion illusion or animated effect is imparted to a figure afiixedto anexposed surface of one of said sheets, thereby to attract attention.

A further and more specific object is to provide an illuminated displaysign or signal comprising an opaque perforated sheet having one positionof the figure to be animated printed or painted thereon, and a secondsheet of transluoent material being arranged back of the perforatedsheet and having the same figure provided on a surface thereof inanother position, and a suitable flasher light being placed back of bothof said sheets within a suitable enclosure, whereby the light isconcentrated on the back of the inner sheet, whereby when the light isintermittently flashed on and off, it will create an illusion of actionin the figure provided on said sheets.

A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive means forimparting motion illusion or an animated effect to a figure affixed tothe front side of a suitable display sign or signal.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is,to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exactfeatures shown as various changes may be made within the scope of theclaims which follow.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a front view of an advertising display device showing theinvention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the figure in anotherposition; v

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1,showing the general construction of the apparatus; v Figure 4 is adetail sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the arrangement ofthe perforated and imperforate sheets, upon which the figure to beanimated is aifixed;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 7 shows a display device of slightly different constructionwherein two light bulbs are utilized; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure'7, showing the general construction thereof.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, there isillustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, an advertising display devicecomprising a suitable supporting structure which may be made ofcardboard or any other suitable material. This structure comprises afront 55 2 .7 11 panel 2 provided with an opening 3, through which theimage or figure to be animated is shown.

A perforated sheet or plate 4, of any suitable thin, opaque, andpreferably light weight material, provides a closure for the opening 3.The plate 4 has its entire surface perforated, and the figure or imageto be animated, here shown to be in the form of a hand with pointingforefinger, is shown in a lowered position on this sheet. The figure isprinted or painted on the outer exposed surface of the plate 4, as shownat 5 in Figures 2 and 5, in such a manner as not to obstruct or closethe perforations'in the plate.

To the back side of the perforated plate-4,-

there is secured a translucentsheet 6 of a suitable thin material, suchas parchment paper," laminated glassine, or any other material suit.-

able for the purpose. The translucentsheet 6 is imperforate, and may besecured directly to the .back side of the, perforated sheet 4 or it mayhave itsmarginal edges secured to the front wall 2 of the supportingstructure, as shown at 1 in Figure 5. Av milk white translucent sheethasbeen found to. serve admirably for many types of displavdevices.

On the back or rear surface of the translucent sheet 6, the illustrationor figure to be animated hand intermittently moves up. and downwith thefore finger, alternately pointing at the informa-: tion or advertisingmatterappearing at 8 and v9 on the front face of the wall 2 of thestructure. The figure-0f the hand is of a suitable color which mayreadily be seen through the sheet 6, when a light bulb l2 is placedbehind the plates or sheets 4 and 6, as shown in Figure 3.

To impart action to the hand, a light bulb is placed back of the twosheets 4 and 6. The-light bulb is shown provided with a base 13, whichmay be conveniently supported in the rear wall 14 0f an enclosingstructure, generally; indicated by the numeral 15. This enclosingstructure has opaque walls, and is suitably secured to the front panel2. It serves to concentrate the light rays on the back side of the plate6, and whereby the lightbulb will not illuminate the area back of thedisplay device. 7

The-light bulb I2 is provided with a suitable circuit breaker or flashergenerally indicated by the numeral it, which may be mounted in the basel3 or, in any other suitable location in the current supply cord l1 ofthe light bulb. This circuit breaker or flasher is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 6, and may comprise a suitable bi-metal orthermostatic element I8 having a heating-coil I9 coiled thereabo-ut,which is arranged to be connected in series with the supply circuit. Thethermostatic-element I8 is supported at one end and carries a movablecontact 2| at its opposite end adapted to engage a fixed contact 22. Inthe circuit shown in Figure 6,

the tension in the bi-metal bar I8 is such that.

when the plug 20 is not connected to a power circuit (not shown), themovable contact 2| is electrically engaged with the fixed contact 22, tocomplete the circuit to the light bulb. When the plug 20 is connected tothe power circuit, current will flow through the heating coil l9,whereby the coil will heat the bar I8 and cause it'to warp in such,'a;direction as to move the contact 21' out of. engagement. with thefixed contact 22. The specific construction of the circuit breaker orflasher l6, forms no part ofthe present invention, and it is to beunderstood that any suitable flasher device which will causeintermittent operation of the light bulb l2, may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The thermostatic element l8may be located within the base l3 of the bulb, and operates continuallywhen the cord I1 is connected to the supply circuit to alternately openand close the circuit to the light bulb'so that the operation of thelight bulb is intermittent. This turning on and Off of the bulb inconnection with the arrangement and construction or the plates 4 and 6,is what causes the figure or illustration of the hand on the front ofthe display device to be animated, or have the ap- ."pearance of beingin motion.

It will thus be seen, that by the use of a suitable flasher, whichcontinually turns the bulb on and off, a dual two-view effect isobtained, and by showing the same figure or: subject in twodiiferentpos-itions, on the plates 4 and 6, that is, with the handraised on the plate 6., s shown in Figure 1, and loweredon the plate 4,as shown in Figure 2, the hand will have the appearance of alternatelymoving up and. down and pointing atthe information or advertising matterprovided on the front ofthe panel 2.. This animated action is obtainedby reason of theperforated plate4 being disposed in flatwise relation tothe translucent plate 6. 1 When the'lightbulb is on the figure of thehand appearing on the back plate 6 will show up in; a sharply-definedoutline through the perforations in the front plate 4, and the-figure ofthe hand on the-front plate 4 will be substantiall blotted out, orbecomeinvisible, because of the brilliancy of the light raysprojectedthrough the perforations in the front plate 4. M turned off,the hand on the back plate 6 becomes invisible, and the hand on thefront plate 4 then becomes clearly visible. It will thus be seen that toimpart action or the effect of motion to the hand on the display device}as shown in Figures 1 and 2, no moving parts are employed, the onlypower required'being the fiasher light bulb l2 provided back of theplates 4 and 6.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a display device more particularlyadapted for use in dark places, such as night windowdisplays. form hereshown, a supporting structure is provided comprising an inner wall 25having an openingZB therein corresponding to the'opening 5 in the panel2 of the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. A similar opaqueperforatedplate 2 is fitted over the opening 26 and has secured to itsback side, an imperforate translucent plate 28, upon which is providedthe outline of The moment the light is t In the 1 numeral 3| arranged:in front ofsthe'panel 25 figure appearing on the perforated plate 28 mayreadily be seen therethrough.

A light bulb 34 is arranged in the lower portion of the box-likestructure 3| below the Window 33, and illuminates the interior of thestructure 3| so that the front side of the perforated plate 23 is wellilluminated, when the light bulb 34 is turned on. A top wall 35 preventsthe light rays from being projected above the structure 3 I.

Rearwardly of the panel 25 and preferably secured thereto, is a casing36, in which is mounted a second light bulb 31. The light bulb 31 isshown mounted in a horizontal wall 38 which cooperates with the upperportions of the walls of the casing 36 to provide a light chamber 39which is substantially imperforate so as to prevent the light from thebulb 31 from being projected through the walls thereof.

The two light bulbs 34 and 31 are shown connected to a suitable flasher,generally indicated by the numeral 4i, to which current is supplied by acord 42 having a suitable connecting plug 43 provided at one endthereof. The flasher 4| may be of conventional design, and is soarranged that the light bulbs 34 and 31 are alternately turned on andoff, whereby the figure appearing through the window or opening 33 inthe boxlike structure 3! may readily be seen when the light 34 is turnedon.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figures '7 and 8, when thelight bulb 34 is on, the front side of the plate or perforated sheet 21is illuminated so that the figure provided thereon may readily be seenthrough the opening 33. When the light 34 is turned off, the light 31 issimultaneously turned on, whereupon the light rays projected through theperforations in the plate 21 will obscure or blot out the figureappearping on the front side of the plate 21. The figure in its raisedposition then becomes clearly visible through the perforations in thefront sheet or plate.

In the structure illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, when the lights areoperating, the muscular arm of the figure on the perforated sheet willbecome animated or, in other words, will have the appearance of beingalternately raised and lowered, as indicated by the full and dottedlines in Figure 7. The structure here shown is particularly well suitedfor use in store windows or, in other dark places, as it is notdependent upon any other illumination for its operation. The two lightbulbs 34 and 31 provide all the illumination necessary to obtain thedesired results.

To render the display device still more attractive, a suitable windowopening 44 may be provided in the front wall 32 of the box-likestructure 3|, as shown in Figure 7. This window may be provided with atranslucent sheet, upon which a suitable figure and advertising mattermay be printed, so that each time the light bulb 34 is turned on, thewindow 44 will be illuminated, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the novel apparatus hereindisclosed, is dependent entirely upon the intermittent operation of thelight bulb or'bulbs for its operation. The perforations in the frontplates 4 and 21 may be of any suitable shape and are so spaced as toprovide the most desired effects. The figure or illustration appearingon the front side of the perforated plate covers all or whatever portiondesired, of the solid areas between the perforations thereof, to providethe desired effect. For exterior use, the entire apparatus is made froma suitable material which is impervious to moisture and unaffected byheat and light. The openings in the panels 2 and 25, in which theperforated plates 4 and 21, respectively, are mounted, may be of anysuitable size and shape, depending upon the subject matter to bedisplayed.

The invention may also be embodied in various forms of traflic controlsignals or automobile lights, signals, or other indicating means, suchas an arrow or a hand with pointing finger, to which an animated actionmay be imparted by a suitable flasher embodied in the lighting circuit.Thus, the invention may be used in the construction of apparatus forcontrolling automotive and pedestrian traffic, and other apparatus towhich it may be found applicable.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an animated sign adapted to simulate motion, an opaque platehaving a uniformly perforated area, a picture applied to the front sideof the opaque plate in the perforated area, a translucent sheet adjacentthe rear side of the opaque plate in the perforated area, a similarpicture applied to the rear side of the translucent sheet in offsetrelation to the first picture, a light back of the translucent sheet,and means for intermittently operating the light whereby the twopictures become alternately visible and impart an animated effect to thesign.

2. In a sign of the class described, a casing having an opening in awall thereof, an opaque plate closing said opening and having an exposedsurface, the entire surface of which is uniformly perforated, the figureto be animated being shown in one position on the exposed surface ofsaid plate, an imperforate sheet of a suitab e translucent materialarranged directly back of said plate within the casing and having thefigure applied to the rear surface thereof in another position, and alight bulb within the casing back of said sheet having a flasher devicefor intermittently turning said light on and off, whereby the twopositions of the figure may be alternately seen, as the light is flashedon and off, whereby a motion illusion or animated effect is imparted tothe figure.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing having an opening ina wall thereof, an opaque plate closing said opening and having anexposed surface, the entire surface of which is uniformly perforated,the figure to be animated being shown in one position on the exposedsurface of said plate, an imperforate sheet of a suitable translucentmaterial arranged back of said perforate plate and having the figureshown thereon in another position, and whereby that portion of thetranslucent sheet covered by the figure may be seen in sharp outlinethrough the apertures in the opaque plate, when the interior of thecasing is illuminated, a light within the casing directly back of saidsheet for illuminating the interior of the casing, and means forintermittently turning the light on and mi, whereby the two positions ofsaid figure become alternately visible and thereby impart a motionillusion or animated effect to the figure.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing having an opening ina wall thereof, an opaque plate normally closing said opening and.having an exposed surface the entire surface of which is uniformlyperforated, and the combined areas of said perforations substantiallyequalling the total area of the solid portion of said surface the figureto be animated being shown in one position on said perforated surface,.an imperforate, plate of a suitable translucent material placed againstthe rear of said screen plate and having the figure shown thereon inanother position, a light bulb within the casing directly back of saidplates, and thermostatic means for interthe figure.

LESTER E; HERBERGER,

